Dense-Joint-Based Obstacle-Aided Locomotion with a Joint-Repositionable Snake Robot

2026-09-24

AI Summary

This study addresses the susceptibility of low-joint-density snake robots to stalling, jamming, and contact discontinuities in complex obstacle environments. We propose a reconfigurable mechanical architecture based on actuator–joint decoupling, enabling high-density joint configurations. By comparing the locomotion performance and control force fluctuations of models with varying densities in cluttered environments, we reveal the critical role of high joint density in maintaining continuous body–environment contact. Experimental results demonstrate that the high-density configuration significantly suppresses abrupt reaction force variations and reduces energy consumption, thereby achieving stable and continuous obstacle-aided locomotion. This work establishes a new paradigm for the structural design of snake robots operating in constrained environments.

Abstract

Obstacle-aided locomotion is a fundamental capability for snake robots to traverse complex environments. However, conventional rigid-link snake robots often suffer from stagnation or jamming caused by their low joint density (i.e., the number of joints per unit length). This results in discontinuous contact with obstacles, unlike the continuous adaptation of biological snakes. To investigate the effect of joint density on obstacle-aided locomotion performance, we utilized a joint-repositionable snake robot mechanism that decouples actuators from joints, enabling a high-density architecture. We developed two experimental models with identical total lengths but different joint densities (high-density and low-density) and conducted comparative propulsion experiments in obstacle environments with varying obstacle diameters. The experimental results demonstrate that the high-density model substantially suppresses the abrupt shifts in reaction forces that cause stagnation in the low-density model. By maintaining smooth contact points, the high-density configuration reduces power consumption and achieves stable, continuous propulsion. These results highlight high joint density as a key factor in improving the environmental adaptability of snake robots in complex terrains.

Problem

• snake robot
• obstacle-aided locomotion
• joint density
• stagnation
• environmental adaptability

Innovation

• obstacle-aided locomotion
• joint-repositionable snake robot
• high joint density
• actuator-joint decoupling
• environmental adaptability